UN warns against settlement expansion in the West Bank
The United Nations has taken a stance against Israel’s decision to revive the E1 settlement project between Maale Adumim and East Jerusalem, as reported by Ashraq Al-Awsat via Reuters on August 14th.
The Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, standing at the site of the planned settlement in Maale Adumim on August 14th, announced the decision to start work on the settlement project that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem.
His office emphasised that the project would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state.
He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump agreed to the implementation of the plan, although neither leader immediately confirmed this.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded to the minister’s comments saying that such actions “would put an end to prospects of a two-state solution.” Dujarric added: “settlements go against international law… further entrench the occupation.”
A spokesperson for the US State Department said in a statement that the US wants to halt the conflict in Gaza and make sure Hamas will not rule over the territory again.
The spokesperson added: “A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region.”
The UN human rights office said on March 18th that Israel’s expansion in the occupied West Bank constitutes a breach of international law: The UN High Commissioner, Volker Turk, said: “The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime”.
“Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers.”
EU leaders also previously condemned plans to build a large settlement in the occupied West Bank. They stressed that “the EU will not recognise changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by the parties.”
Ashraq Al-Awsat via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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